Reviews (2)

A former gun-phobe
What is striking is that Prof. Kleck actually began this series of studies to "prove" that guns in the hands of citizens doesn't reduce crime.Ya see, Kleck is a liberal Democrat.He is a member of the ACLU,Common Cause, Amnesty International and supports the typical liberalagendas.When he got done crunching the data he found results that shockedhim. At a minimum, Americans use firearms 2.5 million times per year indirect, face to face defenses. And that is Kleck's admittedly conservativeestimate. Additionally, only 1% of the time is the thug shot, and only 0.1%of all encountered thugs are killed.Remarkable restraint, I'd say.Goodpeople just left alone. Don't debate gun control without first reading this book.
A rigorous and dispassionate statistical examination of a topic more often distinguished by emotion than reason, Mr Kleck has created a book that everyone interested in the suject of gun control should read, and which every second amendment advocate should own.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cause Of Crime And Delinquency    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Firearms    4. General    5. Gun control    6. Social aspects    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Violence    10. Violence (Sociological Aspects)    11. Violence in Society    12. Causes & prevention of crime   

Subjects:  1. Firearms    2. General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Gun control    5. Handbooks & Manuals    6. Law and legislation    7. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Public Policy - General    10. Reference    11. Social aspects    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. Current Events / General    15. Small firearms, guns & other equipment    16. Social issues    17. USA   

Reviews (3)

A good primer on the gun control issue for the open minded.
...This book addresses the real reason that gun control laws "don't work."It also addresses the potential for gun control laws as crime fighting tools. Vizzard does this in a very balanced manner. Gun control politics
This latest effort of William Vizzard was written primarily for those readers who have a real interest in the history and future of gun control. This book does not necessarily provide "ammunition" for either side of this complx controversy, nor do I believe it was written for that purpose.Real insight is provided into the lobbying techniques& political crusades of both sides and gives the reader background material in a strainghtforward & factual manner without presenting biased claims for either side.Mr. Vizzard, because of his personal experiences, research and education has a totally unique insight into both sides of the issue and his well documented dissertation allows the reader to examine the policy, politics and symbolism as the success and failure of past efforts & the future of gun control in this Nation.

Politics of Gun Control
This latest effort of William Vizzard was written primarily for those readers who have a real interest in the politics of gun control.It does not necessarily provide "ammunition" for either side of this complex issue nor do I beleive it was written for that purpose. This Book does however, provide a real insight into the lobbying techniques and political crusades of both sides of gun control and certainly provides the reader with significant background material in a straightforward and factual manner without attempting to present unproven and biased claims for either side. Mr. Vizzard, because of his personal experience, research and education has a totally unique insight into this issue and his well documented dissertatin allows the reader to examine all aspects of the successes and failures of gun control in this Nation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Firearms    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Gun control    5. Law and legislation    6. Political Science    7. Political aspects    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Public Policy - General    11. United States    12. Political Science / Public Policy    13. Public health & safety law    14. Small firearms, guns & other equipment    15. USA    16. Violence in society   

Reviews (28)

A journey into the heart of a parent
A moving account of how a father tries to come to terms with the random shooting death of his son.What we learn is that while the journey is probably necessary, there are really no terms to be found.No answers that will make dad say "wow, now I understand."
An emotional journey
Once I started reading Gone Boy, I could not put it down.Many times the words were a blur as tears filled my eyes thinking of Mr. Gibson's pain.He writes in a style that bears his soul and makes him as vulnerable and racked with pain as you and I would be in the same situation.However, he deals with it in a most unique way, he trys to find out all he can about Galen's murder, from the mental state of his killer to the manufactuer of the ammunition and everything in between.The most fascinating aspect of it all is that Mr. Gibson searches for all the components of his son's murder and gives us a picture of how all of these fragments happened to come together in the same place and time on that tragic day.My heart goes out to him and his family.His story is a sad one but necessary for the healing process.

brave & eloquent
For such a disturbing and sad subject, you are unable to take a break or put it down. It remains facinating and never falls into a "sob story". It is rational but allows you to feel every emotion along with the author. This book is a triumph! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bard College    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Case studies    4. Death, Grief, Bereavement    5. Family & Relationships    6. Family/Marriage    7. Great Barrington    8. Great Barrington (Mass.)    9. Gun control    10. Homicide    11. Massachusetts    12. Murder    13. Parental Memoirs    14. Parenting - General    15. Simon's Rock    16. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Reviews (1)

Reasoned, Balanced and Badly Needed
For the most part, the gun-policy debate in the United States could be well summed up by Yeats' words: The best lack all conviction while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity.Truly honest scholarship, in the sense of a dispassionate exploration of the issues underlying the debate, has been sorely lacking.Even the best, scientifically-based work has taken the form of attempts to prove something about the social benefits or social costs of private gun ownership.No one, it seems, has come forward to frame the questions that the debate ought to be seeking to answer.Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Constitutions    3. Firearms    4. Firearms ownership    5. Gun control    6. Law and legislation    7. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. United States    12. Central government policies    13. Civil rights & citizenship    14. USA    15. Violence in society    16. Weapons & equipment   

Reviews (2)

Plenty of reasons why this liberal respects the NRA
Being a liberal Democrat, I joined the NRA with deep reluctance Excellent overview
For anyone, friend or foe, this is the definitive history of the National Rifle Association of America. From its 19th century beginning ("to improve and promote civilian marksmanship"), to its current battle to promote and defend Second Amendment rights, this tome presents a cogent and interesting account of the Association's mission and of its ongoing efforts in the current civil rights arena. A good read and a valuable addition to the bookshelf of any American. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Coatings industry    2. Firearms    3. Firearms owners    4. General    5. Gun control    6. History    7. History: American    8. Hunting - General    9. RPM, Inc    10. Societies, etc    11. Sports & Recreation    12. United States   

Reviews (1)

A valuable resource
Let's be upfront-This isn't the kind of book you're going to sit around and read for relaxation.That said, Kopel has done some valauble and excellent work.He destroy's the myth that the SCOTUShas said little about the right to keep and bear arms, since they haven't taken a straight up Second Amendment case since the 1930s (Miller v US).He shows the many places where the right has been mentioned in other cases, and what the manner in which the right is mentioned means.A large chunk of the book consists of the actual text of many of the cases.Supreme Court opinions are never easy reading, but they're necessary in a scholarly work such as this.Overall, a well researched and valuable book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Cases    3. Constitutional    4. Firearms    5. Gun control    6. International Relations - Arms Control    7. Law    8. Law and legislation    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. United States   

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Firearms    3. General    4. Government - Legislative Branch    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. Gun control    7. Law and legislation    8. Politics - Current Events    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Public Policy - General    11. Social Law    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. United States    15. Crime & criminology    16. Jurisprudence & General Issues   

Reviews (2)

Guns Are Not For Fun
This was the best book I could have found to explain to a 7 and 8 year old that guns are not to be idolized.This book is narrated by a young boy who is very easy to relate to.A very well written lesson on the importance of staying away from guns and what to do if you are around a gun.

Brings reality home for kids
"Guns Are Not for Fun" is a very simple, to the point book about the dangers of guns. Geared towards elementary aged children, it effectively addresses the price a child will play if he or she plays with a gun and hurts someone. It clearly instructs children to get a grownup ifthey find a gun. Unlike books and movies that leave the consequences ofgunplay unseen, this book tells the child what he or she will no longer beable to *do* if there is an accident with a gun. It's also developmentallyappropriate. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Kindergarten    2. Education / Counseling    3. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Social Science    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Social Issues - Violence    6. Counseling    7. Education    8. Gun control    9. Prevention    10. Safety Education    11. Teaching Methods - Social Science    12. Violence in children    13. Weapons   

Reviews (6)

I liked this book a lot except...
...the last 1/3 of it got bogged down in too much technical detail and repeated information that had been previously stated. That is too bad because the first 2/3 was well-written and informative.
Two Liberals Go Pro-Gun (mostly)
What is lost on many reviewers is the political history of the two authors which would cause some to assume that they would be viciously anti-gun.Well, they were, at one time. No pre-programmed arguments
Kates and Kleck present a reasoned discussion of the possession, control and use of guns and their impact on violence and crime in the US.Read more

Subjects:  1. Arms Control    2. Civil Rights    3. Criminology (Specific Aspects)    4. Firearms    5. Firearms ownership    6. Government policy    7. Gun control    8. International Relations - Arms Control    9. Law Enforcement    10. Law and legislation    11. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    12. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    13. Politics - Current Events    14. Politics/International Relations    15. Social Science    16. Sociology - General    17. United States    18. Violence (Sociological Aspects)   

Reviews (11)

A very informative book
This is a must-read if you really want to become truly informed about the NRA. A statement near the end of the book clearly reveals the thesis of the author. The author says something like "The NRA is not the evil empire that its enemies claim but neither is it a super patriotic defender of the constitution." The author goes on to explain that the NRA is simply a special interest group. The NRA's understanding of the second amendment is flawed. If gun-control is really unconstitutional then why are there so many gun-control laws in some areas of the US? No court has ruled those laws unconstitutional. The NRA has often tried to demonize those who support sensible and moderate levels of gun-control. Instead of addressing the issue logically, the NRA is content to resort to personal attacks and name calling by referring to such people as communists and comparing them to Hitler. Gun Prohibition in the 1980s
In the "Acknowledgments' OGD says he was advised to tell the truth, and he tried. But 'truth' is always accompanied by experience and opinion, which affect perception. "A Well-Regulated Militia: the Battle over Gun Control" is a better and more informative book. Attacks the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
The author has written books on other topics; he has no background on this one. OGD did try to hold back his biases, but they slipped out in many places. Chapter 1 tells of "The Stockton Lesson" and how it was exploited by Gun Prohibitionists to further their agenda. The real lesson is that the Establishment refused to hospitalize a sick, deranged individual; they would prefer to exploit any crazy attack that occurs in a "gun free zone". How many other walking time bombs are being released in the hopes of another incident? OGD's criticism of the volunteer NRA (p.22) shows he doesn't understand "Democracy in America"; DeTocqueville stated that voluntary association was the basis of democracy in America. Pages 28-29 document no infringement on the right to keep and bear arms, then. OGD does NOT mention the name of the group that paid for "sweeping legislation to ban or regulate a wide variety of firearms" (p.29). Pages 35-39 show how the NRA is a democratic organization responsible to its members. Compare that to the "Million Mom March Inc.", or the major political parties! The 1968 Gun Control Act banned mail order sales of guns and ammunition, even though this leaves a paper trail, and provides a delay for cross-checking!Read more

Subjects:  1. Crime Prevention    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Gun control    4. Lobbying    5. National Rifle Association of    6. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    7. Political Process - General    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. U.S. Lobbies And Interest Groups    12. United States    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    14. Political Science / Practical Politics    15. Social issues    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Dunblane    3. Dunblane Massacre, Dunblane, S    4. Firearms    5. Firearms and crime    6. Great Britain    7. Gun control    8. Law and legislation    9. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    10. Political Science    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Public Policy - General    13. Scotland    14. Sociology    15. Violence in Society    16. Central government policies    17. Crime & criminology    18. Social Science / Sociology / General    19. USA    20. United Kingdom, Great Britain    21. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (18)

The commitment it takes to make a societal change...
is daunting.Reading this book took me through a roller coaster of emotions- from laughing, to crying, to utter amazement as to what it really takes to effect change in making the USA a safer nation. One woman's passion fills a million hearts
It's been said that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Well, Donna Dees-Thomases wanted something done, and she managed to get others involved in a very controversial topic. An important and thought-provoking book
This thoughtful and well-written exploration of what one concerned mom can do was inspiring.Dees-Thomases' stand against the monumental gun lobbies is a testament to taking action, one person at a time.Both balanced and a great read, I would recommend this terrific book to anyone concerned about guns and our children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Citizen participation    3. Family & Relationships    4. General    5. Gun control    6. Political Advocacy    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Prevention    9. Public Policy - Social Policy    10. United States    11. Violence in Society    12. Violent crimes    13. Law / General   

Reviews (4)

Understanding Your Viewpoint
This book contains 24 opposed viewpoints grouped into four main topics on this subject. Chapter 3 asks if gun ownership is an effective means of self-defense. Viewpoint 1 says guns are effective for self-defense. Most news stories in the corporate media depict violent crime committed with guns, rarely the defensive use of guns. The author suggests this defensive use is largely unreported. If it prevents a crime, there is no report. And if the gun is not legally licensed, it will not be reported. (Every so often the NY city news reports where a crime was stopped because of action by a citizen; but the citizen was arrested because the gun wasn't licensed!) The absence of guns results in more "hot burglaries", where robbery occurs when the residents are home (p.90). The high rate of gun ownership makes all homes safer. Viewpoint 2 claims guns are not effective for self defense because people can't arm themselves quickly (trigger locks?), or are not trained to shoot accurately (p.95). Most people are shot with handguns, not assault weapons; most people are not shot at work or school, but on a street corner or parking lot (drugs?), or the victim's home (pp.96-96). Gun Control: Exercise in Futility?
This book contains two dozen opposing viewpoints on the subject of "gun control". Chapter 4 asks "what measures would reduce gun violence?" and provides eight answers. Reading opposing views will educate you, but you should browse some of the books in your library for more depth. Short Course of Opposing Viewpoints
This book has four main topics, with two dozen opposing viewpoints. These were chosen for balance, and edited to fit 192 pages. It has a list of organizations that may be contacted, but not the number of their memberships (tells how broad based they are). It lists 25 books on this topic, but does not summarize them. You should know that Bellesiles' book was discredited as an historical work, and W. Weir's book is better than the others. Chapter 1 asks if private gun ownership poses a serious threat to society. It doesn't define "serious threat", or tell that every gun is "owned" by its user.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Firearms ownership    3. General    4. Gun control    5. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    6. Social Problems (General) (Young Adult)    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Crime & violence    11. Social Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Firearms ownership    4. Government policy    5. Gun control    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Law & Crime    8. Social Issues - Violence    9. Social Problems (General) (Young Adult)    10. United States    11. Violent crimes   

Subjects:  1. Civil Law    2. Crime Prevention    3. Criminology    4. Firearms    5. Firearms And Gunsmithing    6. General    7. Gun control    8. History & Theory - General    9. Law and legislation    10. Metallurgy    11. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    12. Political Science    13. Politics / Current Events    14. Politics/International Relations    15. Products liability    16. United States    17. Political Science / History & Theory   

Editorial Review

While gun supporters use the nation's gun-toting history in defense of their way of life, and revolutionary enthusiasts replay skirmishes on historic battlefields, it now turns out that America has not always had a gun culture, and wide-scale gun ownership is much newer than we think. After a 10-year search for "a world that isn't there," professor and scholar Michael Bellesiles discovered that Americans not only rarely owned guns prior to the Civil War, they wouldn't even take them for free from a government that Read more

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Reviews (158)

Amazon.com as Guilty as Bellesiles?
Michael Bellesiles work has been exposed by legitimate historians (not just by NRA "gun nuts") as poorly researched and inaccurate.That is a polite way of saying that the book is worthless because the author intentionally invented facts (okay, I'll say it, he lied) and faked research to support his hypothesis.After an independent academic panel came to these same conclusions, Mr. Bellesiles resigned his position at Emory University in disgrace and his Bancroft Prize was eventually revoked.For the most part, the only informed people who continue to support him or his "work" are rabid and venomous gun grabbers for whom the end (gun confiscation) apparently still justifies the means. Anyone who still believes in any of Mr. Bellesiles contentions after reading James Lindgren's thoroughly and properly researched article published in the Yale Law Review is in a complete state of denial.All that being said, I must ask why Amazon.com continues to promote this despicable piece of garbage masquerading as legitimate historical research using the glowing laudatory reviews written when the book was first published in 2000, and before Mr. Bellesiles was exposed.So much for ethics among book peddlars.

Raising the Rating, For Fairness' Sake
Through a combination of bad luck, forgetfulness and, yes, sloppy documentation, Michael Bellesiles's pathbreaking work could not sustain a prominent place in American historiography. The 2003 paperback edition of "Arming America" has now incorporated a number of needed corrections and revisions. Despite the abuse heaped upon the author, it once again stands as a significant contribution to colonial and early national US history.Its well-documented flaws were concentrated in a few passages and tables presenting quantitative data.But critics never really addressed the mass of qualitative data, much of it available for decades, supporting Bellesiles's thesis that our gun culture's historical "roots" exist largely as myth.They also ignored his first-rate earlier research, notably "Revolutionary Outlaws" on early Vermont, which made him a rising star among historians.His foes' success in derailing his career reveals their failure to accept contrary views, and the power of the NRA gun lobby.The most substantive critiques appeared in "William & Mary Quarterly."For a full account of the affair, read J. Wiener, "Historians in Trouble." Wiener notes that many well-regarded histories have more serious problems, and the controversy reflects the hostility of "Arming America's" enemies far more than the book's weaknesses.Wait and see: Michael Bellesiles will eventually regain a reputation as a fine historian.

Difficult to check
It is unfortunate that upon considering this book, that one should, if honest to themselves, undertake a study to see if Bellesiles' peer historians have "signed off" on it.
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Subjects:  1. Firearms ownership    2. United States    3. History    4. Firearms    5. Gun control    6. Social Situations And Conditions    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Political Science    9. U.S. Government    10. Practical Politics    11. United States - Colonial Period    12. Sociology - General    13. Social Science    14. Public Affairs & Administration    15. United States - General    16. Bargain   

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Firearms    5. Gun control    6. Law and legislation    7. United States   

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Subjects:  1. Crime prevention    2. Firearms    3. Gun control    4. Labor & Industrial Relations - General    5. Law and legislation    6. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. United States   

Reviews (3)

Gun Control is nuts
One early reader wrote: What is gun control?
Do you truly wish felons, terrorists, mentally ill, and other "disqualified" people can acquire firearms?Does the possibility of armed criminals scare you? Small Collection
A small collection of pro-gun articles, that range from very good to average.The historian's review of Rome's effort to disarm an enemy (by trick)is almost worth the price of the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. Political Science / Public Affairs & Administration    5. Sociology    6. 2nd Amendment    7. Constitution    8. Criminology (Specific Aspects)    9. Firearms    10. Gun control    11. Law and legislation    12. Politics/International Relations    13. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights    14. United States